Medway's Wendy Rowe: Librarian, tech wiz, karate teacher

Friday

Jun 27, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Zachary ComeauDaily News Staff

MEDWAY - Navigating the library through a series of budget cuts when the town faced a $2 million deficit in 2006 is just one of Wendy Rowe's many skills.Rowe, 53, elected not to run for re-election to the Board of Library Trustees this spring, after serving for more than 20 years. She is planning on "downsizing" and moving to Cambridge with her husband.According to Rowe, her involvement with the library began in the early 1990s when she and her husband moved to Medway when she was pregnant with her second son."One of the first things we did while considering a move to Medway after living near the city was to visit the library," which she called "the heart of the town," she said.In fall 1994, a seat on the board opened up, and Rowe’s neighbor, a library trustee, suggested the "library lover with small children" join the board. She was appointed and in 1995 was elected to her first three-year term.According to Rowe, she joined the board while the library was making its third attempt at getting a state grant to renovate and expand the building.With a passion for writing, she worked with then library Director Phil McNulty on revising the grant proposal."It was very exciting when we actually received the grant," she said.But grant-writing and library renovations highlight only a small part of Rowe’s life.A New Jersey native, Rowe graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in electrical engineering, and then went on to work for small tech startups until landing at BBN Advanced Computers, a high-technology company that provides research and development services.With her background and education in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), Rowe helps teach the library’s 4-H Club, which focuses on STEM aspects.She said she also used to run a home-schooling group in Medway. "We’d do all sorts of crazy hands-on science at my house every month," she said.In addition to teaching STEM, working tirelessly at the library, sometimes doing the work of a janitor, Rowe also spent her time in Medway earning her black belt from Seishin Martial Arts in town, and is now an Aikido instructor.She said her son saw a karate demonstration at Medway Pride Day in 2002 and became intrigued."I sat watching his classes for a couple of months, and it looked like fun, even though I've never been athletic," Rowe said. "I didn't even take gym after spraining my knee when I was 12, and, even before that, skipping and ice skating were pretty much the extent of my athletics, except for ballroom dance in college."Rowe now helps teach and manage at Bellingham Kenpo Karate, she said.At a retirement reception last week, many applauded Rowe’s work ethic, including stepping in as the acting director, in a non-paying volunteer position after the budget cuts.Library Director Margaret Perkins had some serious doubts about Rowe’s sleep schedule, given her long list of commitments."It’s hard to believe," she said. "Basically, if you ask her to volunteer, she will volunteer without hesitation."Even after her announced retirement from the board, Perkins said Rowe continues to help out in the library, even going as far as to purchase materials and supplies for children’s programs and coordinating events."She gets more done than anybody I know," Perkins said. "I’ve known her for years. I’m still constantly impressed by how much she accomplishes and how many things she volunteers for."Rowe said her work ethic comes from working in several small startups and watching her dad run his own company when she was growing up."In the world of startups, you do whatever it takes to make things happen," she said. "I just do whatever needs doing."Zachary Comeau can be reached at 508-634-7556 and zcomeau@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZComeau_MDN.